MUI deplores attack on Ahmadiyah

HEADLINES Fri, 07/30/2010 6:35 PM

MUI deplores attack on Ahmadiyah

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deplored on Friday an incident of attack against members of the Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah at Manislor village, Jakalaksana district, Kuningan regency, West Java, a day earlier.

“It should have been settled persuasively,” said Slamet Effendi Yusuf, head of MUI’s Inter-religious Harmony Commission as quoted by tempointeraktif.com news portal.

The way to settle the problem could be through dialog between representatives of the regional government and Ahmadiyah members as well as members of mainstream Muslim organizations, he said.

Slamet admitted settling the problem was easier said than done. On the one hand a joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah signed two years ago has to be implemented. “But on the other hand, Ahmadiyah members insist to maintain their existence, exercise their activities and even try to expand themselves,” he said.

The problem is, Slamet said, that it could be left without any attention. There must have been a commitment to implement the joint decree and all parties have to wiser and respect one another as the process is not short.

“Amid the process, the Muslim organizations can make intensive approaches,” he said.

Is has been reported earlier that a clash erupted on Thursday between Ahmadiyah followers and members of Muslim organizations as the latter forced their way to enter Ahmadiyah compound in Kuningan. The Muslim organizations demanded that the government disband Ahmadiyah.

URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/30/mui-deplores-attack-ahmadiyah.html

President orders police to be strict in call to disband Ahmadiyah

NATIONAL Fri, 07/30/2010 5:41 PM

President orders police to be strict in call to disband Ahmadiyah

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under threat: Followers of Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah leave An-Nur mosque at Manis Lor village, Kuningan, West Java, after Friday prayers. Clash broke out between members of more than five Muslim organizations from outside Kuningan and Ahmadiyah followers on Thursday, damaging scores of houses and injuring at least three people. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the National Police to be strict in handling disputes surrounding the call to disband Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah in Kuningan regency, West Java, a minister said on Friday.

Speaking at the Presidential Office in Jakarta, Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said that the police had to be strict especially in anticipating any anarchic action conducted by whoever or whichever organizations.

“A stern action has to be done on any anarchic action by anybody, everywhere, whichever organization. The police have been instructed to do so. The President has also asked me that the police have to be strict,” he said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Djoko made the remarks following a clash between members of more than five Muslim organizations from outside Kuningan regency and Ahmadiyah followers residing in Manis Lor village, Jalaksana district, Kuningan.

The clash happened when organization members, who demand the disbandment of Ahmadiyah, forced their way to enter Ahmadiyah followers’ compound on Thursday. Police officers in charge of maintaining order were pelted with stones.

As Ahmadiyah followers felt they were cornered, they fought back, attacking members of the Muslim organizations. Several people were injured in the incident.

URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/30/president-...-disband-ahmadiyah.html

Fresh attack targets Ahmadiyah members

NATIONAL Thu, 07/29/2010 10:17 PM

Fresh attack targets Ahmadiyah members

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Kuningan, West Java

Clash broke out between angry mob and members of the Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah in Kuningan regency, West Java Thursday, damaging scores of houses and injuring at least three people.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto regretted the incident and told people to stop resorting to violence.

“The problem should be peacefully taken care of, not through violence which only disadvantages all,” he told Antara news agency.

The incident immediately drew criticism, with the National Commission on Human Rights member Hesty Armiwulan saying it shows the country’s poor law enforcement.

“The government should find solution to this problem, rather than to take side with one group and violating the other’s rights,” she said.

The clash erupted after some 500 protesters, claiming to come from several hard-line Islamic groups, forced their way into the sect’s complex at Manis Lor village, located some 40 km south of Cirebon city and is home to some 3,000 Ahmadiyah followers.

They soon pelted stones and wooden sticks against each others.

Upon order from Kuningan regent Aang Suganda, public order officers closed down eight Ahmadiyah mosques in the village on Monday and Wednesday. But the residents later opened up the seals.

On Tuesday the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace announced the result of its survey, which revealed rampant use of violence to suppress the religious freedom of minority groups in the country.

URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/07/29/fresh-attack-targets-ahmadiyah-members.html

FPI members clash with police after Rizieq verdict

--- The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

FPI members clash with police after Rizieq verdict

Headlines - Fri, 10/31/2008 7:32 AM

Hundreds of members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) clashed with police outside a Central Jakarta court and attempted to force the closure of a nearby Ahmadiyah mosque after their leader, Rizieq Shihab, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The FPI members, stationed outside the Central Jakarta District Court, were outraged at the guilty verdict handed down to Rizieq for his role in instigating an attack on religious freedom activists at the National Monument park on June 1.

After a shoving match with police officers securing the courthouse on Jl. Gajah Mada, the FPI members headed to the Al Hidayah mosque, run by the Ahmadiyah community, on Jl. Balikpapan, Gambir, to close it down.

They were stopped 50 meters shy of the mosque by the police, leading to a scuffle between the two. It ended when the FPI members dispersed.

No one was detained during the clash, but Central Jakarta Police deputy chief Heri Wibowo said there were elements inciting the crowd. Some 1,500 police officers had been deployed in anticipation of the hard-liners’ reaction to the verdict.

Rizieq’s supporters inside the court were also outraged. Several shouted and swore at the judges, but were asked to restrain themselves by their leader. Rizieq’s wife and children were crying.

Rizieq and his subordinate Munarman, commander of the Islam Troop Command, were both given 18-month sentences for their role in the attack on members of the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion, rallying for the Ahmadiyah community after it had been declared heretical by the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI).

The presiding judge at both trials, Manusunan Harahap, said Rizieq had been proved guilty of instigating violence, and Munarman of committing violence.

Both men protested the verdicts, claiming they were handed down based on dubious evidence.

Both said they would appeal, and Rizieq maintained his calls for anti-Ahmadiyah actions.

“Even if we risk breaking the law… even if I’m thrown in jail or die, we will never stop our efforts to disband Ahmadiyah,” Rizieq said after the sentence was read out.

There was a visible sense of relief among police officers outside the courthouse after a police car carrying Munarman, whose sentencing followed Rizieq’s, left the compound. The officers had frequently been engaged by the FPI in clashes throughout the trial. (mri)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10...-verdict.html